chain reaction
noun
1
a
: a series of events so related to each other that each one initiates the next
b
: a number of events triggered by the same initial event
2
: a self-sustaining chemical or nuclear reaction yielding energy or products that cause further reactions of the same kind
Examples of chain reaction in a Sentence
Increased oil prices could trigger a chain reaction in the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
The main risk is that these batteries can overheat and go into thermal runaway, a chain reaction that occurs when a lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state—resulting in extremely high temperature, smoke and, ultimately, a fire that is notoriously difficult to put out.
—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The neutrons, thus produced, can lead to more fission events in the nearby fuel, leading to a chain reaction.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
The satire, sci-fi, and body horror movie follows a Chinese-American teenager (Shirley Chen), who, feeling insecure about her race, takes a drastic step that causes a chain reaction throughout her own and her family’s lives.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
These population shifts can cause what’s known as a trophic cascade, an ecological process in which a change in the population of a top predator affects other species lower in the food chain, triggering a chain reaction.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chain reaction
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Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The neutrons, thus produced, can lead to more fission events in the nearby fuel, leading to a chain reaction.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
The satire, sci-fi, and body horror movie follows a Chinese-American teenager (Shirley Chen), who, feeling insecure about her race, takes a drastic step that causes a chain reaction throughout her own and her family’s lives.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
These population shifts can cause what’s known as a trophic cascade, an ecological process in which a change in the population of a top predator affects other species lower in the food chain, triggering a chain reaction.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chain reaction
Cite this Entry
“Chain reaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain%20reaction. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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